Drug abuse is a growing problem in Liberia. There is no reliable data on user numbers but one study, by the United Nations Population Fund, found a staggering one in five Liberian youth take narcotics. …
As Drug Addiction Reaches a Crisis Liberia’s Presidential Candidates Promise Tough Remedies
In 2012 Cecelia’s life fell apart. Struggling to take care of nine children after the sudden death of her husband, she turned to her oldest son, then in his early 20s, for help. But he was lost to the family, a year into a drug addiction that was destroying his life….
Call for Applications: Journalism Fellowships, Liberia
Journalists with at least three years experience are invited to apply to join New Narratives as reporting fellows for one year projects on a range of topics including governance, democracy, human trafficking, gender-based violence, climate change, pollution, biodiversity and land rights. Funding is provided by Swedish International Development Assistance, the US State Department, Wellspring Philanthropic…
Job Alert: Deputy Editor in Chief
**POST FILLED. WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS***Location: Monrovia, Liberia New Narratives is seeking an experienced independent journalist to lead our journalism projects in Africa. Must be a strong team leader who can mentor our dedicated team of journalists to the highest standards of journalism. Time: Full Time (40 hours a week) Remuneration: $24,000 – $36,000…
Job Alert: PT Editorial Consultant, Liberia
Job Description Job Title: PT Editorial Consultant Job Location: Monrovia, Liberia Time: 2-3 days a week over four months Remuneration: competitive New Narratives seeks a highly experienced editor to support and mentor our Liberia team in journalism production and project management skills. Deadline: January 31, 2024. To Apply: Send CV, cover letter and links to…
Air pollution: the growing threat to our food supply
Though it has not received much attention until now, air pollution has become a huge challenge around the globe, with significant implications for human life. The last few years have been hard on Saeed Jafat and his family. The 45-year-old maize farmer has no irrigation system or underground water supply. He depends entirely on the once-a-year rainy…
Air pollution kills 28,000 Ghanaians each year and sickens many more, say experts
At first it wasn’t clear to the family members what had killed their beloved father. Dr Ato Atobrah, a retired lecturer, had been taking a nap in his bedroom. Several hours later they found his lifeless body. Footage from a closed-circuit television revealed the killer. The 70-year-old had awoken when smoke poured into his room…
Plastic waste to increase air pollution
Plastic waste is projected to rise to 116m tonnes annually by 2060, six times more than the 18m tonnes of waste produced in 2019. The main driver of rising plastic consumption in sub-Saharan Africa, where 70 per cent of the population is under 30, is rising income and population growth. Plastic waste is also projected to almost…
Satellite data helping to monitor pollution levels in Accra
Researchers are utilizing satellite imagery to monitor air pollution levels and sources of emission in Accra. They are leveraging the power of multi-spectral visible bands of Landsat 8 satellite imagery to map out areas with poor air quality by targeting Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5. A PM 2.5 is a tiny piece of solid or liquid particles with…
Wood dust: The silent killer of Ghanaian woodworkers
Wood dust has become a silent killer causing a range of health problems….
Fish Smoking: The Livelihood Causing Pain and Death in Coastal Communities in Ghana
When his mother fell ill and started coughing incessantly, Kojo Ansong and his siblings thought it was a minor infection that would go away with some over-the-counter medication. It didn’t. Sixty two-year-old Christiana Ntiamoah’s coughs became raspier, more frequent and she sometimes coughed up blood….
DEADLY TROTROS: How Ghana’s Most Popular Mode of Transport is Wreaking Havoc on Our Health
Israel Nkegbe never imagined a time when he would feel afraid to leave his house. Once a strong and commanding chief police inspector he now struggles just to breathe. The world outside his house is filled with dangers: toxic air pollutants that could trigger an attack that takes his life. A year ago the 63-year-old…
Ghana’s Air Quality Crisis: Asthma Burden Worsens as Air Quality Deteriorates
In the bustling streets of Accra, the daily spectacle of cars ensnared in traffic jams is a sight all too common. Yet, amid this urban hustle, a disquieting reality looms – a shroud of dense, noxious fumes billows from the exhaust pipes of countless vehicles….
Air Pollution – Enemy of Children, Elderly and the Vulnerable
In Ghana, a growing menace lurks in the air, imperilling the most susceptible members of the population—children and the elderly. This silent and invisible adversary, air pollution, has raised alarms among health experts who urge both the government and citizens to take immediate action….
Liberia: Presidential Candidate Cummings’ Business Experience is Unrivaled but is it Enough to Win Over Voters?
Alexander Cummings, a former Coca-Cola executive, touts his global business acumen as crucial for Liberia’s economic revival in the upcoming presidential race, facing incumbent President George Weah and others….
Survey Finds One in Three Liberians Do Not Trust the Biometric Voter Registration System for October’s Elections
A survey by New Narratives reveals deep mistrust among Liberian voters towards the new Biometric Voter Registration system, marred by glitches and double registrations, ahead of October’s manual voting….
Liberia: Trafficking Victims Await Restitutions, as Ex-NSA Agent Appeals 25-Year Sentence, Another Trial Indefinitely Suspended, Amid Drama Over Lack of Lawyer for Defendant
Victims of Arthur Chan-Chan’s trafficking have not received court-ordered restitutions, while the Liberian government, despite denials, faces criticism for failing to provide for the survivors’ welfare….
Liberia’s Traffic Deaths Among the Highest in the World, So Why Did the Government Halt a $50m Facility Meant to Make Roads Safer?
Liberia’s traffic tragedy claims lives like Lucky’s, highlighting the nation’s alarming road fatality rate, as vehicles with defects continue to operate without proper checks from a ready but unused traffic management facility….
In Rural Liberia, Where Police Lack Cars Or Equipment, Criminals Rule
Residents of Grand Bassa County say they are living in fear as a state of lawlessness takes over the county. Police – with no vehicles, fuel or other resources – say they are powerless to enforce the law. As a result, serious crimes are going on with no effort to arrest perpetrators….
Liberia: As Funding For Prisons Drops 85 Percent Under Weah Government Endless Pre-Trial Detentions Are Devastating Lives
Jerry Zeah’s search for a better life in Monrovia ended in a prison cell, untried for a crime he denies, as he faces a justice system delay stretching beyond his alleged offense’s sentence….
President’s School Chairs Arrive In Rural Schools, But There Aren’t Nearly Enough
In Buchanan’s overcrowded Four Houses Public School, kindergarteners like 7-year-old Sarah struggle to learn while seated on the floor, amidst dire shortages of chairs, tables, and a deteriorating classroom structure….